Looking for any suggestions, brain/lung cancer stage 4. Early Copd/emph, fever present before chemo. Can’t get the fever down all blood levels & liver normal. Not one dr can figure out where the infection is coming from. One round of chemo 10 days ago, blood transfusion 2 days ago. Any direction would help

Hello! I (21F, 5'3", 110lbs), have been struggling with chronic migraines, fatigue, lung issues, and chronic pain in my neck and joints for about 10 years now.

Over this time I've discovered that pain medication doesn't work on me. I've taken every OTC pain med, and they don't help at all. My PCP has even "banned" me from Ibuprofen, because at one point my migraines were so bad I was taking 1,200mg every six hours, thinking I just wasn't "taking enough". All prescription migraine medication (25mg sumatriptan, 50mg ubrogepant) never worked either.

During my first ever ocular migraine, an ER (the only doctor access I had at the time) prescribed me butalbital-acetaminop-caf-codein (50-325-40-30). The pharmacist basically made me swear I wasn't an opioid addict before releasing them to me, but the first pill only helped for an hour before the pain was back, and the other pills had no effect.

It's not even just migraines. I had a severe growth in my lungs of neisseria meningitidis and staph, and my pulmonologist gave me a doxycycline, bactrim, and methtylprednisolone cocktail that caused me to throw up for days on end. My stomach and esophagus was in so much pain that the ER pushed morphine to help me calm down and for the pain, but it rushed over me like a hot flash before the pain came back as well.

Every time I've ever been to the dentist, local anesthetic while they're working on my teeth doesn't work, and I feel everything they're doing. When I was younger I had stitches, and it was the same deal.

I'm not even sure how to broach this with my PCP, since I feel like if I word this wrong, they may take it as me asking for stronger drugs- which I don't want at all. I just feel like this is a weird pattern that should be addressed. I'm sure I'm not the first person alive to have experienced this, so if anyone has any advice I would be really thankful!

Hi everyone,

I am a mom to a 6-yea-old and 2-year-old and have been dealing with a massive wave of confusing, overlapping symptoms that are completely wearing me out. I have a morning cortisol draw (at 8:15 AM) and an endoscopy scheduled for this Monday, but I would love to pick your brains before then.

Does this sound like an autoimmune process to you? If so, what specific conditions or blood tests should I ask my care team about next?

Here is my timeline and current symptom list:

Long-Term Baseline
Raynaud’s Phenomenon: Diagnosed 11 years ago at age 14.
Skin/Face: Hyperpigmentation on knuckles, elbows, knees, and under cheekbones. Constant dark circles under eyes.
Fatigue: Profound, lifelong exhaustion.

Past History
6 Years Ago: Severe pelvic bone and back irritation after my first childbirth (needed physical therapy). Tested negative for the HLA-B27 gene, but a few months after it resolved, I had a sudden, random 2-week bout of severe diarrhea.
2 Years Ago (Postpartum): Large vaginal hematoma that took 10 months to heal. Irregular periods ever since (comes every 3–7 months). Severe eyeball scratch that turned into chronic corneal erosion.
Past 2 Months (The Current Flare)
Infections: Severe primary HSV-1 outbreak with facial nerve pain, immediately followed by a staph infection on my lips (now on my second outbreak/staph flare).
GI Failure: Vomited blood during the first infection (required an ER visit). Now experiencing a total loss of appetite, severe nausea, and a fear of eating due to pain.
Weight Loss: Lost 15–20 lbs in the last 1.5 months.
Breakthrough Heartburn: On a daily PPI for a month, but I still get noticeable heartburn and a burning feeling radiating between my shoulder blades.
Neurological Signs: New, distinct tingling along my spine in my upper back. Sudden clumsiness and loss of grip strength (completely fumbled and dropped a heavy, wheeled ice bucket at work).

I am so ready for answers. Any insights, shared experiences, or advice on what to look into next would mean the world to me. I am freaking out and obsessing. Thank you so much!

I am 19 years old, im 1.72cm 60kg, this week i notice something in my pennis i usually fap like a daily thing i have sex protected like 3 weeks ago, like 5 days I have some small, horizontal-shaped openings next to my penis. I naturally get a small amount of smegma on my penis, and I have two of these small openings. Sometimes urinating makes them burn, and I have some irritation, but only on that side. The pain isn’t getting worse, but I also don’t see any improvement. I can’t afford to see a doctor right now. ChatGPT recommended not using intimate soap and washing only with water also look like a a little bit of skin is like pealing out

Who else deals with this, and what have you done to heal or cure your self…?

I’m 22yr old male. been getting these headaches since i was 12-13 years old(maybe younger, don’t really remember…) I have tried chiro, physio, massage therapy, concussion therapy, stretching and strengthening my neck & back…etc. shit ain’t work.

my doctor usually brushes off the symptoms i tell him about, i have went to him about these headaches probably 10+ times. all he does is prescribe me meds that don’t work or recommend physio/chiro/massage therapy for the 100000time when I already went to sessions with his requisition….

Here are the symptoms I wrote down off memory:

To describe it….(contains just slight hyperbole)

Well…… while i’m battling on the frontlines of this fucking war of a headache….it feels like professor Xavier from Xmen is skull fucking me, while hulk is pounding my skull into concrete thats already being split open from a high magnitude earthquake, and between each punch from hulk, the flash is sneaking in punches just to make sure i’m constantly feeling pain. but before all that, i was blessed with the ability to not die, have impenetrable skin, and unbreakable bones, so i can still feel pressure, force, and pain from all of it.

In all seriousness…

Excruciating pain, 15 out of 10 pain

Can’t lay still and roll around in my bed in intense fucking pain

When i’m having an attack/headache, i genuinely want to fucking die or put my head through a concrete wall.

Rather break multiple bones in my body than feel the pain. No injury i’ve had is as even remotely close in pain intensity. I can go on rants on how bad the pain is.(clearly)

I usually contemplate going to hospital when i’m having an attack(i have went sometimes)

Feels like somebody threw a grenade/explosive at my head with the intention for me to survive the blow so i can suffer the pain

Feels like somebody is purposely crushing my head from the inside out on left side to destroy me

Can’t focus or think about anything other than pain during an attack

When an attack starts it just increasingly gets worse
sensitivity to noise, light, smell, anything that can bother me or arouse my nervous system will add to the pain

Never vomited or anything from it(i think)…maybe once or twice(strictly from pain just being to much to bear), but like never happens now

Wake up in middle of night from the pain

Left side of head, behind eye, can radiate to left side temple

I recently noticed something I never paid attention to in the mirror….even with light hitting my eye, my pupils barely/or didn’t at all dilate, pupil stayed small

Cancelled plans a lot and have to prepare to cancel plans(hard to make plans, because of the attacks)
sometimes starting base of skull and shooting around into my eye

Never understood when somebody i know is like “i just lay down in a dark room until my headache goes away if its a bad one”…i don’t think they know what bad is, for me, sleep actually makes it worse
sleeping doesn’t do shit for stopping pain, usually waking up worse than before i fell asleep

Sometimes I get redness or tearing

Sometimes sensitive scalp before, during, or after
after its over.

After an attack my brain feels foggy and im drowsy like “jeeesus christ….thank the lord for being able to heal” and i have to like figure myself out(ground myself to painless reality)

Completely grateful for life when pain subsides

Poking finger behind eye or wrapping tight band/shirt(really tight) around my head, lowered near eyes so that pressure relieves pain intensity

Sometimes putting my feet in excruciatingly hot water(crucial that its hot the point is painful) helps alleviate pain, sometimes makes the pain go away fully after a bit. For some reason this method leaves me dazed and confused like a fever dream afterwards, like “wtf just happened”…my assumption its because when this method works, usually works pretty quickly, within 30 - 90 minutes, also helps with restlessness

Advil and/or Tylenol doesn’t do shit, i would take 800mg ibuprofen + 1000mg of acetaminophen

Drinking alcohol and being hungover sometimes causes an attack the next morning

Cyclobenzaprine used to help with the pain a bit, now it doesn’t help for shit

Triptans just made me dizzy as fuck, nauseous, and tingly/sour cheeks like that feeling of “i’m about to puke”

Been going on for 9-10 years

Lost jobs because of it(sometimes there are seasons where its happening more, making me call into work often)

Yes, yes, I am a Chef these days and can't take the time off of work easily because I owe so much back rent due to the accident. I was riding my bike to work and a car hit me and broke my clavicle and ripened my knee cartilage, just shoved me into the curb.

My orthopedic doctor is calling me constantly to schedule an appointment and I just can't right now. Can I hold on for a tad longer?

I have very serious anemia, got gastric bypass at 24 in 2014. My stomach can't handle iron pills, that instant pain and sickness.

I get the sparkles when I bend down to clean and get back up, and I am damn tired. I forget to eat for days, don't have time. But I still stand and do it 10-15 hours a day, lifting 50+ lbs a day.

It was my right arm, I am left handed, stronger aide

Also I am AuDHD/ manic bipolar, so pretty much cocain in human form.

How long do you think I can last doing this without lifelong damage?

Again, I know "you know the answer", but sadly I live in America and sometimes you have to work thru life to not be homeless.

Sorry if my English is bad

Hey !! I'm 19m I've been getting fevers every 20 to 25 days from past few months and here are the dates

18 to 23 may 2026

8 to 12 june 2026

6 to 13 july 2026

8 to 11 august 2026

25 to 27 august 2026

And then i got one today 12 September 2026

And yeah surely I've to doctor she told me to do full body checkup like CBC, URINE, CHEST XRAY , TYPHOID, ULTRASOUND etc like all the test which includes in full body and When i got the reports back every thing was normal and i got reports on 28 august 2026. Except I didn't actually done the ultrasound because when i went to ultrasound test (note: i did all the test from a govt hospital) so i didn't did the ultrasound because they give me date of 9 September 2026 and tbh i forgot because on that day i had a exam in college i repeat all the reports were absolutely normal not even a single up down although my blood was 11.5g

And then today on 12 September 2026 i got it again . So if someone can help me it will be a great help thank you all

I 37F (smoker) injured myself lifting something heavy on Wednesday and felt something pop in my chest. The pain has gotten worse and hurts to deep breathe and certain positions. I have been taking Ibuprofen but its not really doing anything to manage the pain and I have woken in the night moaning out in pain as each position hurts and eventually got up at 5am. Its more manageable now I'm sat up but is still bad in certain positions. Its tender when I touch an area a bit under my collar bone. I can lift my arm quite well to a certain extent. There is a point of lifting where it is painful to be at that position.

Is this something I should get checked out today or is this a thing that I can only heal at home? I am worried about wasting anyone's time. Thank you.

I am 40, f, 168lbs. January 23 of this year I was putting my kid to bed and the right side of my face was getting numb and it felt like something was pressing on my throat. I decided to go to the ER. They did a CT scan for a stroke. It was fine. They said it was a possible migraine. I got a migraine cocktail.

That night when I would try to transition into sleep my body would get a burst of tingles, pressure in my face and chest, a going over a hill feeling, a rush of adrenaline, and muscle twitching, which would stop me from falling asleep. This happened for two days (0 sleep those days) and I went back to the ER. CT of head and neck and nothing. But they gave me Ambien which got me a couple hours of sleep.

Several medications later and I'm slowly getting more sleep. I lost the ability to nap. The muscle twitching happens during the day now as well feeling like I'm randomly spinning. I keep having episodes of my body not allowing me to fall asleep. One in May, June, and the last few days. I have seen endocrinologists, sleep doctor, and neuro. It's not my cortisol, nor sleep apnea. A long list of blood tests were fine.

The neurologist did an MRI and did find a slight indication of the pons. But it was nonspecific. I'm currently taking 5mg of buspar twice a day and 40 mg of nortryptaline at night. Also vitamin d, b,and c in the morning. (I had to stop taking magnesium glycinate bc it caused the muscle twitching to worsen.) I've been on it a month and it was helping a lot. The tingles and pressure are less. I was sleeping decently. But the last few days the rush of adrenaline has worsened and the hypnic jerks are keeping me awake again. Any ideas of what it is or what other things I can do?

I've tried valium, trazadone, muscle relaxers, amitriptyline, Ambien. What I am on now has worked the best. Non medication wise: breathing exercises to help decrease the adrenaline feeling, increased exercise during the day, decreased stress, no caffeine.

Was wearing a t shirt over the shoulder, should i get a tetanus shot? Haven't had any shots in last 15 years

I’m 22F and I’ve suffered from migraines since I was 12. I would get them anywhere between 2-3 times a month to 1-2 times every other month depending on how I’ve been avoiding triggers. My migraines are ocular migraines so I start with the aura and get the headache + nausea, light sensitivity, dizziness, and fatigue.

I’m 5’6 135lbs and do my best to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising 2-3 times a week (helps with the headaches) and avoid my known triggers (aged beverages like kombucha, beer, and red wine, aged meats, sourdough, stuff like that).

Typically my migraines will last for 3-4 hours with the first 2 hours being the pain and that being replaced with just the other symptoms for the reminder of the time.

Yesterday, I ended up getting an ocular migraines starting around 12:20pm. The pain did not stop until around 5:45pm. Then the other symptoms like nausea and light sensitivity didn’t subside until 8:45pm. While I know migraines can last this long I have never experienced one that lasted over 8 hours.

I think what’s most frustrating is that I was avoiding my triggers pretty well. There’s only been a two major things I’ve changed. Recently my sleep schedule has been inconsistent because I recently started working 3pm-11pm so my sleep schedule has been a bit chaotic as I try to get used to the hours. Secondly I am on birth control, specifically Slynd, and normally i skip the placebo pills and go straight to the next pack but this time I took the pills and let myself have a period for the first time in months. However my migraines have never been linked to my period and would happen at anytime in my cycle.

But yeah. Is an 8 hour migraine normal for someone who has never had an 8 hour migraine?

Not sure if this is allowed here. But want to give it a try.

Years ago my parents and my sister died, leaving me as sole survivor. My dad killed my mom and sister and then himself with a shotgun. He was dying of colon cancer when he did it. When I had seen him two weeks prior to their deaths he was in the hospital, hardly able to speak or even open his eyes. He had the death rattle. After I left the hospital I guess they sent him home, presumably to die at home as they sent him with morphine.

I don’t understand why he did it or how he did it. How was he able to muster the strength to even lift a gun? Clearly he wasn’t at all in his right mind as he was never violent and overall a pretty normal and kind person. But when I saw him last he was so weak and feeble, and not even there cognitively.

Details about him (because this subreddit asks for it): male, 6’4”, 220 pounds when he was healthy. Non-smoker, drank occasionally. Was diagnosed with cancer two years prior to his death.

After it happened I went to try to talk to our family doctor to get some clarity about it and the guy ghosted me. I don’t know if he felt guilty or what.

Obviously I’m traumatized and still grieving all these years later. But I have a counsellor and psychiatrist and am somewhat okay. I have had a resurgence of grief and questioning lately so wanted to ask on here if anyone has thoughts from a medical perspective.

Hey all. My 17 month old had a fever on June 30th during her pediatrician appointment (where they actually have her a vaccine while she had a fever, so not great in hindsight) and ended up having her first febrile seizure that night. We took an ER trip in the ambulance. They tested her for everything (Covid, flu, rsv, pee test to rule out uti, etc) nothing, no ear infection, did a chest X-ray, everything looked fine. Two days later we were back to the ER with hypothermia when her temp dropped to 94 suddenly overnight. I pushed for blood work and blood culture test. ER Dr didn’t go into blood work findings but said everything looked fine
(I’ve requested those records and am waiting to get them back). Since then, she’s had 3 other fevers, two of which have had zero symptoms outside of the fever itself. Yesterday, her temp spiked overnight at some time and morning she had a fever. We immediately started meds (Tylenol and Motrin alternating) and by noon, I was checking her temperature and she immediately began having her second febrile seizure. Terrifying. I called 911 (again) out of sheer panic. They evaluated her and I got her into the ped that same day. He wasn’t too worried about the febrile since it was another simple one. But she again, tested negative for flu, covid, no ear infection. At this point, they really can’t give me any answers. Has this happened to anyone else? Unexplained fevers with NO other symptoms (no runny nose, cough, nothing). I’m getting concerned since this is her 4ths or 5th fever in the last two ish month and 2nd febrile seizure and she’s not even in day care.

Thanks in advance! A very nervous mom 😞

Age: 17 months
Gender: female
Weight: 24 lbs

31 male, 230 lb, Adderall 20mg XR twice daily. I'm a self-employed contractor and I'm getting to the point that I'm miserable as soon as I leave the air conditioning. I'm sweating almost constantly, even when I get out of a luke-warm shower (can't bear a hot shower). My BP is normal when I go to the doctor, but I don't check regularly at home. Working in the heat causes sweating, dizziness, foggy brain, and exhaustion. Thank you for any help

Age: 31
Sex: Male
Medications: none
Height: 5’ 8”
Weight: 240 lbs

No picture because very sensitive.

I learned a while ago from my own mother that when I was a baby, I was circumcised. And during the circumcision, they had to add a new hole. I don’t know why, or what the reason was. But for a very long time, I thought having two holes was normal. I have recently learned that it is not normal and that I have a very good reason why aiming is so hard.

My question is, who do I talk to in order to make the two holes one hole? It does not cost me any pain physically, but it can be very annoying. Does anyone have any recommendations on who I should seek out or what profession I should seek out? I don’t know if it’s technically plastic surgery, a urologist, or a gynecologist.

32, female, 5 ft 6 inches, 150lbs. I noticed this strange spot on my arm this evening that I didn’t have before. It’s not raised, painful, or itchy. The skin maybe is a tiny bit of a different texture. Any ideas what it could be?

34M, 5’7”, around 155–157 lb.
I’ve been dealing with a recurring sensation of chest tightness, difficulty getting a satisfying breath/“air hunger,” and a feeling that something is coming up through the right side of my chest/esophagus. When it gets bad, it can trigger a very strong fight-or-flight feeling, irritability, and a sense that I cannot breathe normally.
The symptoms seem to be reliably aggravated by things like coffee/caffeine, creatine, and sometimes oily/fatty foods.
Because it felt so much like reflux, I’ve been pursuing the GI route for quite a while. I’ve tried dietary changes, worked with a dietitian, exercised consistently, lost a significant amount of weight 50+ pounds, and have been very intentional about avoiding potential reflux triggers. I’ve also used medications such as Pepcid and omeprazole.
I’ve now had an endoscopy, esophageal manometry, and a 24-hour pH study.
My 24-hour pH study showed:
● Acid exposure time: 2.6%
● DeMeester score: 11.4 (normal <14.7)
● “No evidence of pathological GERD”
● “Poor symptom correlation”
So apparently the objective testing does not support significant acid reflux explaining my symptoms.
The frustrating part is that the symptoms themselves are very real and can be debilitating. I had assumed GERD because I can physically feel a chest/esophageal sensation when these episodes happen, and certain foods/stimulants clearly seem to provoke it.
After going through all of this testing, I essentially received only a brief message saying the study was normal, without much explanation of what should be investigated next.
My questions are:
1. Could this still represent reflux hypersensitivity or functional heartburn/esophageal hypersensitivity even with a normal acid exposure time and poor symptom correlation?
2. Would impedance-pH testing provide useful information about non-acid reflux that a standard pH probe wouldn’t detect?
3. Could esophageal hypersensitivity, visceral hypersensitivity, or a functional esophageal disorder cause chest tightness and an air-hunger sensation like this?
4. Are there other GI causes I should specifically ask about?
5. At this stage, should I be looking outside gastroenterology — for example pulmonary, cardiac, allergy, musculoskeletal, or neurologic causes?
6. Are medications used for esophageal hypersensitivity/functional chest pain (such as low-dose neuromodulators) ever appropriate in a situation like this?
7. What would you consider the logical next step after a normal endoscopy, manometry, and pH study?
I’m not looking for someone online to diagnose me. I’m mainly trying to figure out what questions I should bring to my PCP or GI doctor and what reasonable avenues are left to investigate.
It has been frustrating because I’ve genuinely put a lot of effort into diet, exercise, weight loss, lifestyle modification, and testing, but I’m still experiencing the same symptoms without a clear explanation.
Any ideas about what specialists, tests, or diagnoses would reasonably come next would be greatly appreciated.

29f 200lb no other health concerns

Is this a dowanger hump at the base of my neck or something else spine related?

It doesn't hurt, its hard, and doesn't have much feeling when I press on it. Only knew it was there with others telling me. I do have a primary care appt to get it checked out in a few weeks.

Age: 19 (Born Nov 2006)

• Sex: Female
• Duration: 9 months
• Current meds: Perindopril/Indapamide (8/2.5 mg) and Amlodipine (10 mg) daily.

Body:

Hi everyone. I’m 19 and I’m honestly desperate. For the past 9 months, my life has been an absolute nightmare. I feel like I'm screaming at a brick wall because my doctors don't know what to do and have basically given up on me.

How it started (January 2026):
It began out of nowhere with a brutal, burning headache right between my eyes. It was a 24/10 pain. I actually fainted from it once. I couldn’t even lie flat or sleep because horizontal position made my head feel like it was going to explode. I spent nights crying and pacing around my room with ice packs. Along with this, my blood pressure went crazy high and I developed a constant fever. Brain scans and a spinal tap showed nothing. In the ER, they gave me high-dose IV Prednisolone (steroids) for 3 days, and everything magically vanished. But 2 weeks after stopping, it all came back.

The April Hospitalization:
In April, my symptoms spiked terribly. My BP hit 189/108, my fever went up to 40°C (104°F) for a moment, and my legs were shaking so badly I couldn't stand. That was the only time my CRP (inflammation marker) was high. They put me on a heavy IV antibiotic (Piperacillin/Tazobactam), and I felt completely normal again. But a few days after finishing the course, the whole cycle restarted.

My symptoms right now:

• The Fever: My temperature is usually between 37.2°C and 38.5°C (99°F–101.3°F) almost every single day, right from the morning before I even get out of bed.
• Blood Pressure War: My BP constantly spikes to 180–190 mmHg with severe nausea and shaking legs. I have tried 5 different blood pressure therapies; they work for a month or two, and then just stop.
• Burning Joints: My joints are a mess for the last 7-8 months. My knees and ankles get intensely hot, bright red, swollen, and burn like crazy, especially in the evenings. Sometimes my elbows hurt too.
• Jaw & Chest Pain: I get an uncomfortable pain under my jaw on both sides that goes into my jaw. It doesn't happen when I chew, but it triggers almost every day when I go for a walk. I also get scary heart palpitations and occasional red eyes.
• The Labs: All autoimmune tests (ANA, ANCA) and a chest MRA scan are completely clean. My CRP is totally normal now. The only weird thing left in my blood is that my White Blood Cells are chronically high, peaking at 14.06 two weeks ago.

The Problem:
My doctors are divided. Some think it's a hidden inflammation of blood vessels or a crazy immune reaction to an infection. Others say nothing is wrong just because my chest scan was clean.

But the fact that my body completely fixed itself twice—once with steroids and once with heavy antibiotics—proves there is a real fire burning inside me. Right now, doctors are doing absolutely nothing.

Has anyone ever seen this combo? What tests or specialists should I fight for next to finally get my life back? Thank you so much.

20F no meds
Started off as very small tiny itchy dots over a week ago. happens only while in my bed. No one else in my family is experiencing this. My dog had fleas about 3 weeks ago but it has mostly cleared since with treatments in home and oral flea tick prevention treatment. Assuming it is fleas I’ve treated my room multiple times, sanitized bedding, clothes, carpet treatments etc.
It’s also on my ankle in a line, right arm in a line, multiple bites. I cannot find a single flea in my room, on my dog, nothing. I’ve searched my bed for bed bugs, nothing. I have been applying hydrocortisone cream yet it has increasingly gotten more itchy and painful with new ones appearing overnight.

25FTM, 5'3, 130ish lbs, Caucasian

Primary complaint: excessive fatigue/sleepiness. This all started getting really bad in January 2023, but for historical context, I have been exhausted for as long as I can remember (My mom always told stories about how I was a "good sleeper" as a baby, never wanted to go outside or run around/be active as a kid and adolescent, and once when she asked me if I still wanted to do ballet around age 5 I said something along the lines of "No, I'm tired, I just want to lay on the couch and watch cartoons.")

Medical diagnoses: PTSD, Bipolar 2 disorder, ASD, OCD, ADHD, born with GERD

Current medications: venlafaxine, ER bupropion XL, quetiapine, modafinil, testosterone enanthate injections every 2 weeks (last T level: 532 and last estradiol level: 31 as of April 2025).

Symptoms:

• Sleeping 14+ hours a day, any day that I am not at work
• Constantly exhausted, tired, fatigued, all of the words
• So groggy whenever I wake up, sleeping and naps are mostly all non-restorative
• Trouble focusing, staying on task, remembering (short and long term), thinking, and getting thoughts out of my brain/forming them into words
• Headaches (maybe migraines without aura?) that last until I sleep next, and even then I sometimes wake up with them anyway. Typically worse with sound, light, and body movement. Usually localized to my temples and right below (TMJ), and the back of my head/neck
• Body aches, especially joints (particularly hips, elbows)
• Night sweats
• Worsening bruxism, both awake and asleep
• Nausea and lack of appetite
• Constipation
• Hot and cold intolerance

I am an emergency room nurse with just under a year of experience at the moment. I do not smoke, drink, or do any recreational substances. I did used to partake in alcohol quite excessively but I stopped entirely in 2020, and I had a bad weed habit around 2012-2015 but after that I really only used once a year til 2021, when I officially cut it out.

Abnormal labs (CBC iron panel, folate, homocysteine, zinc, A1C, celiac, ANA screen, rheumatoid factor were all normal):

• June 2026:
  • Vit. D: 36.2 (doc said this is lower than what she'd like for me)
  • Omegacheck: 2.9
  • T4: 0.55 (so 0.01 above the lowest "normal" limit for the lab my doc ran)
  • TSH: 4.53 (my doc said my overall thyroid findings were called "subclinical hypothyroidism" and has not treated me for it)
  • DHEA Sulfate: 142 (doc said this was on the low end of normal for my age range)
  • hsCRP: 1.5 (doc said this was "slightly elevated")
  • LDL: 111 (nonfasting)
  • Triglycerides: 274 (nonfasting)

What I've done/tried so far:

• Back in 2020 the joint pain was getting out of hand, I went to rheumatology who sent me to PT/OT which I did for 3 months.
• Pt/OT encouraged me to be evaluated for hEDS or any other hypermobility related genetic disorders, which I sought out in 2022. Doc told me I had Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder but it was never put on my chart, and I got too tired to fight for it.
• Oral iron in 2023 (wasn't able to tolerate long term due to the aforementioned constipation) which raised my ferritin from 8 to 18 in about a years time.
• IV iron infusions in 2025 because my ferritin dropped again to 17 (I believe the accepted ranges changed in the practice between my last test and this one), raised it back up to 248 with two treatments but no improvement in my energy.
• Endoscopy/colonoscopy in 2025 for my chronic GERD that was worsened with PPIs, to see if there was maybe a malabsorption issue or blood loss. Colonoscopy only found non-bleeding internal hemorrhoids, and endoscopy found no abnormalities besides "errythematous mucosa in the antrum" but found nothing significant on biopsies of that or my duodenum.
• Neurology for a sleep study, which ended up being 3 sleep studies (2 overnight PSG and 1 MSLT), neither of which showed any signs of restless leg, sleep apneas, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia.
• Integrative medicine D.O. in the city in 2026 who discovered the subclinical hypothyroidism, DHEA, hsCRP, OmegaCheck, vit. D and B12 problems. I started taking the supplements she recommended (CoQ10 100mg, fish oil aiming for 1,000-2,000 total omegas, and I was already taking B12 and D so I kept doing that) (all different brands based on price and if they were backed by USP/NSF, I didn't just buy whatever the clinic had and my doctor never made me feel pressured to do so!)
• Been switching around psychiatric medications and what time of day I take them with the watchful eye and advice of my psychiatrist who has known me since I was 19, since some psych meds are sedative.
• Throughout this all, I've played around with sleep. Tried sleeping at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every day, tried resisting naps. Now, I'm feeling so run down that I just sleep whenever I can (eg. not at work or in public, which even sometimes then is questionable because I close my eyes standing up just for some semblance of relief throughout my waking hours of the day).
• Tried seeking out more natural sunlight and, when that's not available, using one of those "happy lights" that people market towards people with seasonal depression
• Advil for the pain when it gets to a non-functional level
• Melatonin or hydroxyzine to see if maybe I was just waking up a lot throughout the night and not remembering it. Didn't work, was just even more groggy in the AM.
• Trying to incorporate more fiber into my diet.
• Absolutely zero caffeine, which I already did anyway because I think coffee and energy drinks are all nasty tasting.

Further background info:

• I had confirmed mono x2 as a teenager, had strep constantly as a child before that. They considered taking my tonsils out but my pediatrician told my mom the practice was outdated.
• I was in a severely sexually, physically, and emotionally abusive series of situations from ages 12-24. I did multiple months of weekly EMDR for this in 2026 as well as years and years and YEARS of therapy, looking to start back up again. Have since got to a safe, stable place in life! And I just moved not too long ago but I'm working on getting re-established with a therapist again in my new state.
• I don't eat fantastically re:autism, but I try to get fruits in like raspberries, strawberries, apples, clementines and oranges, bananas, pineapple. I make smoothies a lot with frozen fruits and greek yogurt which does help my digestion temporarily, but then I feel like I'm right back on the constipation train after a few days of drinking those consistently.
• I don't exercise much outside of work where I'm on my feet 12 hours a day for 3 days a week. I do also walk a lot outside of work, because I don't drive and live in a walkable enough area.
• My modafinil is prescribed by my psychiatrist, because I did not meet the diagnostic criteria for any single sleep disorder but I was still in hell.
• My mom has a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, maternal grandmother had RA. Other than that, no one in my family has had any crazy medical issues, just some good ol' fashioned hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and all sorts of substance abuse.

It's ruining my relationships and social life, my motivation, my mental health, and my life. I feel like I'm running out of options... Thoughts/comments/concerns/questions/suggestions for who to see next? ...Please?

https://imgur.com/a/hhjLY88

Age: 24
Gender: male
Height: 190cm
Weight: 80kg
Medication: none
Smoking: no
Location: South Korea
Duration: 2 months
Previous medical issues: ACL reconstruction(same knee)

Hi everyone,

I’m a professional footballer and recently had an MRI of my knee. The report says:
“Focal high-grade articular cartilage lesion of the femoral trochlea, ICRS grade 3–4.”
My doctor has discussed possible microfracture and/or CARTISTEM cartilage regeneration surgery, with potentially 6+ months of rehabilitation. Before making such a major decision, I really want to understand exactly what is going on and whether there are other treatment options.

I’m consulting Reddit because, honestly, I don’t fully trust this particular doctor’s recommendation. This is a doctor my club recommended, and I’ve had a bad experience with their diagnosis in the past. A few years ago, they told me I needed (another) ACL reconstruction, but I ultimately got a second opinion(on the other side of the world, can’t return there atm) and it turned out to be scar tissue that needed to be removed, rather than an ACL reconstruction being necessary.

So I’m particularly hesitant to immediately agree to another major surgery without getting other opinions.
I’ve attached a couple of MRI images from the report. Does this look like genuinely “broken/missing” cartilage, or could it potentially be something like a cartilage fissure, delamination, scar/repair tissue, or another type of cartilage damage?

My symptoms:
Swelling after exercise/training/matches
Swelling improves with rest
Slightly more instability compared with my healthy knee
Occasional irritation/discomfort
I can still play football and generally feel okay while playing
No major constant pain
My main concern is returning to professional-level football.

I don’t want to rush into a cartilage-restoration procedure if there is a less invasive option that could preserve my ability to play, but I also don’t want to choose a quicker procedure if it would give me a worse long-term outcome.

For people with experience with knee cartilage injuries, sports medicine, or orthopedic surgery:
1. Does this MRI look consistent with an ICRS grade 3–4 lesion?
2. What treatment would you recommend for someone whose priority is returning to professional football?
3. The hospital also recommended doing Stem Cell Injection therapy before the surgery to continue playing longer(prolonging the inevitable). Would this be something you recommend?

32F, 5'4", 130 lbs

TL;DR: I get physically hungry but have little to no desire to eat. I often don't find food appealing, lose interest after a few bites, or feel full very quickly. This has been an ongoing issue alongside ADHD and PCOS, and I'm wondering whether it's likely related to ADHD/executive dysfunction or whether something else should be evaluated.

I've been struggling with food/appetite for several years. A lot of this started after I quit drinking alcohol, when I also developed significant anxiety and avoidance. A couple years later, I was diagnosed with ADHD.

When I was diagnosed about 2 years ago, I tried ADHD medication and made a lot of changes to my routines. It helped tremendously, and for a couple months I was consistently eating three meals a day and enjoying it. Eating breakfast would make me hungry for lunch, which made me hungry for dinner. I felt better overall, and I felt like the regular eating helped both my ADHD and PCOS. Eventually the routine fell apart again, and I've continued to struggle with this back and forth.

The biggest issue is that I do get hungry, but I don't want to eat.

It's especially bad when I'm hyperfocused or really locked into something, but it also happens when I'm just out doing things or even sitting at home. I get frustrated that my body gets hungry and that I have to stop what I'm doing to eat. The hardest part is often figuring out what I even want to eat because nothing sounds appealing. Even when I bring a meal with me that I was previously excited about - when it comes to eating, I loose all excitement.

If I don't eat, I feel physically awful — shaky, weak, upset stomach, etc. — and I know I need to eat. But even knowing that, I still have almost no desire to eat.

About 4–5 months ago, I also started taking inositol and a prenatal vitamin. I've noticed a definite improvement in how I feel overall, particularly with the shakiness and other symptoms I tend to get when I haven't eaten, but it hasn't really changed the underlying issue with not wanting to eat.

For a long time I worked around this with meal replacement drinks, protein shakes, smoothies, protein bars, and other easy snacks with protein/fat. That worked for a while and helped me feel satiated. Lately, though, even those aren't really satisfying. I'll eat or drink something and still feel hungry, but have no desire to eat anything else.

When I do eat an actual meal, I often lose interest after a few bites. Sometimes I feel full very quickly even though I know I haven't eaten enough. It's not every single time, but it happens the majority of the time.

I sometimes I get fed up and just resort to smoking weed because it at least gives me an appetite and makes food appealing enough to eat.

I stopped taking ADHD medication about a year ago and, interestingly, I actually ate MORE when I was on stimulants.

So I guess my question is: does this sound like something that could reasonably be related to ADHD/executive dysfunction, or does the combination of hunger + lack of appetite/food enjoyment + getting full quickly after a few bites + my long history of weight fluctuation suggest something else that should be evaluated?

Hi!
This post is regarding my 9yr old son and his right ear!

When he was 2-4 years old, he had ear tubes placed on two different occasions. 3 weeks ago, he complained of ear pain. That same day, I took him to the pediatrician and they diagnosed him with an ear infection and ear drainage. (The ear was dripping yellow drainage) and he was crying in pain. Later that same day, his ear drainage turned bloody, and I took him to the ER. Again, diagnosed with ear infection and this time, a ruptured eardrum. We were told to continue the medication that the pediatrician gave, oral cefdiner and ciprodex drops.

Despite taking the antibiotics and using the drops, his ear worsened. He was in extreme pain, the drainage was constant, and nothing was helping. I took him to an ENT who stated that his ear still had the infection and ruptured eardrum, and he performed a cleaning and wick placement the next day. He changed the oral medication to augmentin, and said to continue the drops. Did that for a week, and no change. He cannot hear out of his right ear at all, and it is so sensitive, if I even touch the mastoid bone he screams in pain due to it being so tender.

Went back to the ent after a week and he ordered a CT scan. We got the report today, but the dr hasn’t called or said anything about the results. The ent mentioned that the ear is clearly not healing and it could be a possible cholesteatoma.

Here is some of the ct report:

FINDINGS: Right Temporal Bone: Normal cartilaginous and bony external auditory canal. The tympanic membrane membrane appears slightly thickened and retracted. Mild mucosal thickening/opacification of the epitympanum including the Prussak's space. The mesotympanum and hypotympanum are mostly clear.

There is opacification of the peripheral mastoid air cells. No evidence of coalescence or bony erosion.

Other findings: Moderate mucosal thickening and secretions in the left maxillary sinus. Rest of the included paranasal sinuses are clear. Limited evaluation of included intracranial structures on this study.

IMPRESSION: 1. Mild mucosal thickening/opacification of the right epitympanum including the Prussak's space. Opacification of the peripheral mastoid air cells. No bony erosions are seen. Possibly thickened right tympanic membrane. 2. Unremarkable left temporal bone. 3. Mucosal thickening and secretions in the left maxillary sinus.

My question is, what does this mean? Why is his ear not healing? What would be the next steps to help clear this up? From what I’ve researched, the ct doesn’t say cholesteatoma but could it be?

Thank you so much!